An excellent idea from Marriage Equality USA and Matt Baume
Posts Tagged: marriage equality USA
11
Apr 11
BEST BACKFLIP EVER: N.O.M. STRATEGIST NOW SUPPORTS EQUALITY
I love this. Louis J Marinelli set up a Facebook page for the US “National Organisation for Marriage” (NOM) that generated so much anti-gay hate that it made him change his mind! That’s right, a key NOM strategist is so turned off by his own supporters that’s he’s joined our side (you may remember him from Facebook’s largest anti marriage equality page: “Marriage: one man, one woman”)
“I began to understand why the gay community was out there claiming opposition to same-sex civil marriage was all about hate. I soon realized that there I was surrounded by hateful people.”
Here’s a further expose from Marinelli about NOM’s faked levels of grassroots support.
27
Feb 11
THE WEEK THAT WAS IN U.S. GAY MARRIAGE
I often find a big reaction to a string of gay marriage new events in the US – a reaction that often generates more heat than light. And while the US is by far the most organised gay marriage movement, it also the most self-obsessed. So, I try not to report everything in up to the minute dramatic style. To be useful to my global audience, it helps to rest up for a couple of days and then reflect on what has really changed!
This week quite a lot did happen, as this Village Voice summary by Steven Thrasher explains. You need to get up to date with progress in
in Washington DC, Maryland, Hawaii, New York, California and more. The predictions about what it all means for the 2012 Presidential election are also coming in thick and fast and full of contradiction.
Tomorrow, I will give my thoughts on what difference the Obama Administration intervention will really make and why/
14
Feb 11
CIVIL UNIONS: WORSE THAN NOTHING?
I am not sure we could say that civil unions in and of themselves are a backward step, but that is indeed what is argued in this piece from Noah Baron in the Huffington Post. I get that back civil unions is usually a cop out that lets people off the hook from arguing for or implementing full equality. In that sense they can be a strategic wrecking ball and an annoying halfway house. But we can’t just dismiss civil unions. Why? Some people don’t want to marry, but do want a legal security and a form of recognition. As long as they also actively support my right to marry – let them be civilly united.
1
Nov 10
NUDGE THE VOTE
I’m in the US as the country shifts focus from Hallow’een to the mid-term congressional and Senate elections. One thing that caught my eye while political trend-spotting was this article from the New York Times magazine about the increasing role of behavourial psychology and economics in political campaigns.
So many gay rights seem to go to a public vote these days, I think it is wise for gay rights groups to keep abreast and get involved in this emerging field.
23
Jul 10
WHY DO SO MANY AMERICANS OPPOSE GAY MARRIAGE?
Ìn this essay/speech Jonathan Rauch, the great writer on marriage equality, looks at what precisely makes the idea and the movement behind it so controversial. Well worth reading in my view
28
Jun 10
MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING
from Parthenia's blog
Here is a beautiful story from an American woman just back from attending the wedding (to another woman) of one of her oldest friends.
26
Jun 10
WEDDING REGISTRY FOR EQUALITY
Now here is a great idea: whether you are a straight or gay couple – why not add a marriage equality charity to your wedding gift registry? You could even give up your gifts in order to help other couples receive the gift of equality.
Here is a current example of these gifting systems provided by Marriage Equality USA. Continue reading →
16
May 10
GETTING THE VOTE OUT
Did you know that most Americans opposed inter-racial marriage rights until the 1990s?
It’s so crazy it is hard to believe – and it is scary to think how bad the poll numbers would be in less free places. But there’s two things to take heart from this collection of poll results from Marriage Equality USA: change can happen quite quickly once the momentum starts; and equality gets more popular once it actually exists.
